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For most of us it mercifully remains a mystery why people can reach a point when they end their lives rather than continue living, writes Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ. We should talk about the life of people who have taken their lives, remember the gifts God gave them, feel sympathy for the suffering they had, celebrate their generous acts, and trust in our God who loves them even more than we do.

Paul Villani is a full-time firefighter with the CFA, based at Patterson River in Victoria. We asked him about what it's like to have a job that can often mean putting your own safety on the line to help others.

Our year 6 teacher recently asked us to name people who we believed to be great leaders. Leaders who inspired us. Names of famous people rang out across our classroom that day. Indeed, each and every name deserved its place on our humble whiteboard in our year 6 classroom. However, I could not help but think of a man who is not famous, but has changed my life forever. This story is about an everyday hero, my year 5 teacher, Mr Lawrie Knott.

Being a crossing supervisor isn't just about plastering a smile on your face and blowing your whistle when it's time to cross. Marina has made sure of that. 'You have to have a good personality', Marina commented, 'and you have to be crossing supervisor for that person who wants to cross, no matter who they are.'

Geraldine Hughes says while unions have been under attack in recent times, they remain a vital protection for workers bearing the brunt of a system that sees them less as human beings and more as costs to be cut or productivity outcomes to be increased.

Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Long, himself a former refugee, spoke with passion about Australia's responsibility to welcome and provide shelter to those seeking our aid at a prayer service before the Palm Sunday Refugee March in Melbourne on 13 April. 'We have been given much and much is expected of us, individually and as a society in terms of our compassion, generosity and commitment to share with others.'